Skip to content
Pitt Rivers Museum
AboutHire the MuseumNewsletterUniversity of Oxford

1938.18.539

Copper alloy weight for weighing gold, representing a reef knot with elaborate spiral decoration. [MJD 14/06/2011]

1938.18.539

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

Terms and Conditions

If you wish to order a high-resolution image and/or licence its use for print or web publication, exhibition, film, promotional product or any other use, whether in the academic or commercial sector of any print run, then please visit photographic services.

Collection type
Object
Description
Copper alloy weight for weighing gold, representing a reef knot with elaborate spiral decoration. [MJD 14/06/2011]
Geographical reference
Ghana
Africa > Western Africa > Ghana
Ashanti
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1938
Date collected
By 1938
Acquisition information
Bequeathed: 1938
Materials and processes
Material Copper Alloy Metal, Process Lost Wax Cast
Dimensions
Length: max 70 mm, Width: max 29 mm, Weight 34 g
Object numbers
Accession number: 1938.18.539
Research and responses

According to de Kolb (1968) Ashanti Goldweights No.1, Gallery d'Hautbarr: New York, page 66 the story relating to elaborate knots is 'Suman: the most popular charm used in various religious cults by the Ashanti, or worn on their person for good luck. Coils of rope or complex knots are often reproduced as gold weights.' [MJD 24/06/2011]

Search terms: Measurement, Gold Weight

Further items to explore